AROER . Three distinct places. 1 . ‘Aroer which is by the brink of the river Arnon’ ( Deuteronomy 2:36 ) is probably the ruin ‘Arâ‘ir , on the north bank of the Wady Mojib (Arnon). In such a position it necessarily became a frontier town, and as such is mentioned (cf. Deuteronomy 2:36 , 2 Kings 10:33 etc.). It was captured by Sihon, king of the Amorites ( Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 4:48 , Joshua 12:2; Joshua 13:9 , Judges 11:26 ); when conquered by Israel it was assigned to Reuben ( Deuteronomy 3:12 ); it was taken by Hazael, king of Syria ( 2 Kings 10:33 ), and apparently later on by Moab ( Jeremiah 48:19 ). 2 . A city of Judah ( 1 Samuel 30:28 ), perhaps the ruin ‘Ar‘âra , 12 miles east of Beersheba. 3 . A city of Gad near Rabbah, i.e. ‘Amman ( Joshua 13:25 , Judges 11:33 ). The site is unknown.
E. W. G. Masterman.